Seal attaching method and apparatus



Dec. 16, 1969 H. PALMLEAF ET Al- SEAL ATTACHING METHOD AND APPARATUS 5Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 16, 1967 fnUenZLaifsx Hebeml Palmjeaj Cer ZK@dijen L'c/zadlewzjso nf. WM-

Dec. 16, 1969 H, PALMLEAF ET AL SEAL TTACHNG METHOD AND APPARATUS 5Sheets-Shes?J 2 Filed March 16, 196'? .ww @m Q@ NNL Dec. 16, 11969 H.PALMLEAF ET AL 3,483,900

SEAL ATTACHING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet5 l I 1 L M66 43 3 9 Dec. 16, 1969 H. FALMLEAF ET AL SEAL ATTACHNGMETHOD AND APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 16, 1967 Dec. 16, M969H. PALMLEAF ET AL SEAL ATTACHING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed March 1e,1967 5 Sheets-Sheet. 5

nited States Patent O W 3,483,960 SEAL A'fTACl-HNG METHGD AND APPARATUSHerbert Palmleaf, Lake Forest, lil., Albert T. Koehler,

hionticelio, ind., and Richard Lewis Mason, Das

Plaines, lll., assignors to A. J. Gerrard & Company,

Des Plaines, lll., a corporation of illinois Filed 16, 1967, Ser. No.623,636 int. Cl. BZH' 45/16; BZld 39/04 US. Cl. IL-93.4 19 ClaimsABSTRACT 0F THE DliSCLSURE A method and apparatus for attaching a sealmember to a strap band prior to securing the strap band to another strapportion by clinching of portions of the seal onto the second strap. Theapparatus includes a seal supporting and strap positioning fixture andan actuating mechanism including crimping jaws operable to cut portionsof the seal and crimp the cut portions onto the strap so as to attachthe seal thereto preparatory to securing the strap and seal to a secondstrap.

Background of the invention In the fields of packaging and materialhandling, and in particular the packagi g of relatively large bulkitems, it is conventional to utilize straps or bands to secure the bulkitems in bundle form. For example, in the baling of cotton, straps orbands are conventionally wrapped around a bale and the ends of eachstrap are secured together to firmly retain the cotton in baled form.When the baled cotton reaches its shipping destination, the straps arecut to break down the bale. It is a common practice to reuse the cutstraps by securing the cut segments together to obtain a lengthsuflicient to wrap cornpletely around a bundle or bale. Difficultiesarise in the known methods of securing the ends of new strip band stockor spliced straps together when the bands are wrapped around a bale. Forexample, the ends of the strap must generally be manually held togetherwhile securing them; a loose strap end is generally left hanging whichcauses injury to adjacent bales and to the persons handling the bales;and the known methods are time consuming. Gne known method for securingthe ends of a strap together about a bale employs a buckle aflixed toone end of the strap with the free end of the strap being coupled to thebuckle through inter-wrapping of the free end with the buckle member.The known buckle method of securing the ends of a strap together about abale or bundle is diflicult and clumsy in operation, ineliicient for itsintended purpose, and relatively expensive. Moreover, the use of such abuckle generally leaves a loose end of the strap hanging free, therebycausing damage to adjacent bales or bundles and causing injury topersons handling the bundles.

Summary of the invention lt is therefore one of the primary objects ofthe present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus forattaching a seal member to one end of a strap band prior to wrapping thestrap about a bale or bundle, to thereby facilitate securing of the endsof the strap about the bundle in a quick and eflicient manner.

Another Object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for attaching a'seal member to a strap band generally adjacentone end thereof to allow the end of the band having the seal thereon tobe brought into overlying relation with another band portion and securedthereto in a manner to preclude an end portion of the band fromextending loosely beyond the seal and thereby causing injury to adjacentarticles.

Patented Dec. 15, 1969 A further object of the present invention is toprovide a method and apparatus for attaching a seal member to a strapband in a manner to tixedly crimp portions of the seal to the bandwithout disturbing portions of the seal which are to be subsequentlyclinched upon a second strip band to thereby secure the two strap bandstogether.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method forattaching a seal member to a strap band which includes the steps ofcutting portions of the seal in a manner to form tabs which are bentover and crimped upon the strap band to thereby xedly attach the seal tothe band, while maintaining the seal in a conguration to readily receivea second strap band portion therein for subsequent clinching of the sealmember onto the second strap band.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forattaching a seal member to a strap band, which apparatus utilizes anovel crimping jaw mechanism to form tab portions on the seal member andcrimp the tab portions onto a strap band disposed adjacent thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forattaching a seal member to a strapband, which apparatus includes a novelcontrol circuit havin(7 safety switches which preclude operation of theapparatus without a strap band being placed in proper position relativeto a seal to be attached thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method forattaching a seal member to a strap band which eliminates the need formanually placing a seal member about two strap bands to be securedtogether, and which method facilitates a highly eliicient positioningand securing of a strap band and seal to a second strap band portion.

In a preferred embodiment of a seal attaching apparatus constructed inaccordance with the present invention, a seal securing mechanismincluding a pair of spaced parallel side plates is adapted to besupported by a support plate on a portable stand. Seal guide andadvancing means are supported on the support plate and are operativelyassociated with the seal securing mechanism to selectively feedindividual seal members of a continuous length of seals into the sealsecuring mechanism. The seal securing mechanism further includesvertically reciprocal means comprising a cutter blade for severing anadvanced seal member from the continuous length of seals, a pair of sealretaining lingers adapted to retain the severed seal within the securingmechanism during upward movement of the seal, a seal stop formaintaining the severed seal in axial position within the securingmechanism, and opposed pairs of pivotally supported crimping jaws whichserve to cut tab portions from the seal member and crimp the tabportions onto a strap band disposed in overlying relation on the sealmember during upward movement of the jaws. A hold down and shear blockis pivotally supported adjacent the seal securing mechanism andoperatively associated with the seal stop so as to pivot downwardly andfirmly retain the strap band against the upper surface of the raisedseal member during cutting of the tab portions and crimping thereof ontothe strap adjacent the forward end.

A pair of operating switches are preferably provided in a controlcircuit which includes upper and lower travel limit switches and start7stop and run switches to control actuation of the apparatus. Theoperating switches are positioned such that one of them will be actuatedby the forward end of the strap band when properly positioned to have aseal attached thereto. while the other operating switch must bedepressed by the operator when the strap band is properly positionedwithin the seal securing mechanisrn. The limit switches are such thatafter a seal member has been attached to the forward end of a strap bandand the strap and attached seal removed from the apparatus by theoperator, the vertically reciprocable elements of the seal securingmechanism will stop in their lowermost positions preparatory to the nextcycle.

Further objects and advantages of our invention, together with theorganization and manner of operation thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description of preferred embodiments of theinvention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like reference numerals designate like parts throughout theseveral views and where:

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE l is a side elevational view ofa seal securing apparatus embodying the present invention, with the sealsupplying mechanism and the hydraulic actuating circuit being omitted;

FIGURE 2 is an end view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIGUREl, with the control switch plate and limit switches removed;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the seal securing device of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top view, taken partly in section, with the seal coverplate being removed to illustrate a plupality of connected seal membersdisposed between the seal guide rails and a seal between the sealretaining lingers, the crimping jaws being in their upward crimpingpositions;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line6 6 of FIGURE l, illustrating the crimping jaws in their uppermostcrimping positions;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line7 7 of FIGURE 1, but illustrating the crimping jaws of the seal securingmechanism in their lowermost neutral positions;

FIGURE 8 is a reduced elevational view taken substantially along theline 8 8 of FIGURE 6 illustrating the travel limit control switcharrangement for the seal securing mechanism;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view illustrating a seal member fixedlyattached to a strap band adjacent the end thereof prior to securing theseal and strap band to a second strap portion;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view illustrating the seal and strap ofFIGURE 9 after securing them to a second strap band; and

FIGURE 1l is a diagrammatic view of an electrical control circuit whichmay be utilized in the seal securing device of FIGURE l.

Description of preferred embodiments Referring now to the drawings, andin particular to FIGURES l-3, a seal securing mechanism, designatedgenerally by reference numeral 20, constructed in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated as beingsupported by a support plate member 22. The support plate member 22 alsoserves t0 support seal guiding means, designated generally by referencenumeral 24, seal advancing means, illustrated generally at referencenumeral 26, a strap guide means 28, and operating switch means,designated generally at reference numerals and 32, respectively, all ofwhich will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow.

The support plate member 22 and its associated supported elements arepreferably suitably secured to the upper surface of a bench stand orcabinet top, such as that ydesignated at reference numeral 2 in U.S.Patent No. 2,933,958, to Koehler et al., issued Apr. 26, 1960, andassigned to the assignee of the present invention. The seal attachingapparatus according to the present invention is preferably mounted on aportable stand or cabinet which can be readily maneuyered into ,con-

.4 venient position at a site whererstrap bands are being utilized inpackaging or baling.

The seals, one of which is illustrated in FIGURES i and l0 by referencenumeral 34, are preferably formed from suitable metal strip stock andinclude a at base portion 36 and generally upstanding side portions 38which, subsequent to the seal 34 being attached to a metallic strap band48 as hereinafter described, serve to allow the strap band 4) to bexedly secured to a second strap band portion 42 (FIGURE 10) which maycomprise the opposite free end of the strap band 40 or any other strapband to which it is desired to secure the strap band 40. Preferably, aplurality of seal members 34 are formed as a continuous strip ofconnected seals, such as illustrated in FIGURE 1l of the referencedKoehler et al. Patent No. 2,933,958. The continuous strip of connectedseals is preferably provided in roll form and supplied to the sealguiding means 24 of the present invention from a supply roll in aconventional known manner.

The seal guiding means 24, the seal advancing means 26, and the strapguide means 28 are similar to those disclosed in the said Koehler et al.Patent No. 2,933,958 and form no part of the present invention.Basically, the seal guiding means 24 comprises a pair of laterallyspaced parallel guide rails or bars 42 which form a passagewaytherebetween adapted to receive the strip or' seals 34 such that theupstanding side portions 38 of the seals will be guided by the opposinginner surfaces of the guide rails. The guide rails 42 are suitablysecured to the upper surface of the support plate member 22 by aplurality of shouldered cap screws 44, 46. The shouldered heads of thecap screws 44 extend upwardly above the guide rails 42 and are adaptedto retain a cover plate 48 in overlying relation on the guide rails 42so as to provide a tunnel-like passageway for guiding the seal members34. The cover plate 48 is provided with a pair of longitudinallyextending slots 50 adjacent the seal crimping mechanism 20 and a pair ofkeyhole shaped openings 52 at the opposite end of the cover plate toreceive the Shanks of the associated shouldered cap screws 44 with theheads of the cap screws serving to abut the upper surface of the coverplate and thereby releasably retain it against the guide rails 42. Thecover plate 48 may be locked in assembled relation on the guide rails 42by a lever bar 54 pivotally mounted at 56 on an upstanding supportmember 58 secured to the upper surface of the support plate member 22 asby cap screws 60. The lever bart54 is adapted to engage a locking studor knob 62 xedly supported on the cover plate 48 and a stud 64 securedto the support plate member 22, thereby preventing movement of the coverplate 48 in a releasing direction when the bar lever 54 is in itsdownward locking position as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3. Upwardpivotal movement of the bar lever 54 allows movement of the cover plate48 to the left, when viewing FIGURE 3, thereby allowing it to be removedfrom the guide rails 42.

An inner guide rail 66 comprising a generally rectangular crosssectional shaped member is secured to the Iundersurface of the coverplate 48 such that it is disposed centrally between the inner opposingside surfaces of the guide rails 42. The inner guide rail 66 has a widthand depthsuch that a generally C-shaped passageway will be formedbetween the inner rail 66, the upper surface of the support plate 22,and the guide rails 42. The length of the inner guide rail is preferablyat least twice the length of one of the seal members 34 and ispositioned generally adjacent the seal securing mechanism 20 to preventany upward movement of the seals during operation of the seal advancingmeans 26 as will be explained more fully hereinbelow.

Each of the guide rails 42 is adapted to support a cylindrical index pin68 (FIGURE 3) for reciprocal movement within a bore 70 provided in theguide rail such that the central axes of the index pins 68 arecoincidentq aisasoo Each of the index pins 68 has a threaded stemportion 72 which extends outwardly through an aperture 74 in the bottomwall of the bore 7'1 and receives a pair ofA lock nuts 76 which serve tolimit inward movement of the index pin 68. The index pins 68 are urgedinwardly by compression coil springs 78 which are disposed about thereduced threaded stem portions 72 within the bores and seat against thebottom of the bore 76 and the head of the index pin 68. The index pins68 are preferably provided with conically shaped annular edge portions`69 which serve to engage inclined edge portions 39 of adjacent sealmembers 34 to accurately position or index the seal members 34 relativeto the seal 'securing mechanism 29. The indexing pins 68 are also serveto retain the continuous strip of seal members 34 in an advancedposition during operation of the seal advancing means 26 as will be morefully described hereinbelow.

The strap guide means 28 comprises a generally U- shaped bracket 80 withthe base portion being secured to the upper surface of the cover plate48 by cap screws 82. A roller member 84 is rotatably supported on a pin86 between the upstanding leg portions of the U-shaped bracket 88 toallov a strap band 48* to be readily received between the upstandinglegs of the bracket and positioned against the roller 84 duringoperation as will be more fully described hereinbelow.

Seal securing mechanism Referring now to FIGURES 4 7, taken inconjunction with FIGURES 1 3, the seal securing mechanism 2@ includes apair of spaced substantially parallel side plates 90 and 92 which extendthrough a generally rectangular opening 93 in the support plate member22 in normal relation thereto. The side plates 98 and 92 are suitablysecured to the support plate member 22 by mounting bars 94 aiiixed tothe respective side plates 98 and 92 through cap screws 96 and to thesupport plate member 22 through suitable cap screws 98. Referring toFIGURES 5-7, each of the side plates 9i? and 92 has a pair of verticallyextending parallel slots 100- and 1112, respectively, which serve asguide channels as will be more fully described below. The side plate 90includes a horizontal slot 104 which extends between the verticallyextending slots 188 to form a generally H-shape in combination with theslots 160. The horizontally extending slot 104 serves to f receive a legportion 106 of an upper cutter block 108 having a generally L-shapedcross section (FIGURE 4). The upper cutter blade 1118 is suitablysecured to the side plate 9i? as by cap screws 11i) (FGURE 3) and has awidth, as considered in FiGURES 5 and 6, slightly greater than the wi thof the web portions 37 formed between interconnected seal members 34.The vertical thickness of the leg portion 136 of the upper cutter blade108 is such that when disposed within the horizontal slot 164, a spacewill be provided between the bottom surface of the extending leg portion186 and the lower edge surface of the slot 164, which space is justslightly greater than the thickness of the base portion 36 of the sealmembers 34. The lower surface 19S of the slot 194 is coplanar with theupper surface of the support plate member 22.

The side plate 9i? has a recess 112 provided in the upper end thereof,which recess has a width slightly greater than the width of the straphands 4l) to which the sealing members 34 are to be attached. The recess112 has a depth suliicient to guide and position a strap band 4@ inproper vertical operative relation within the seal securing mechanism 20during operation thereof, as will be described more fully hereinbelow.

Extending between the side plates 91) and 92 are a pair of pin members114, each pin having its respective ends disposed within opposedvertically extending slots 100, 102. The pins 114 are prevented fromaxial movement within their respective slots 1GO, 182 by retainingplates 116 and 118 suitably secured to the outer surface of the sideplate 90 over the vertically extending slots 108, and retaining plate128 suitably secured to the outer surface of the side plate 92 over thevertically extending slots 102. Pivotally mounted on each of the pins114 are a pair of crimping and bending jaws 122, all of which areidentical in configuration. The pins 114 also serve to support a pair ofspacer members 124 which are generally rectangular in configuration andhave recesses 12S (FIG- URE 7) in the upper edge surfaces thereof. Therecesses 125 have inclined side edges 127 adapted to engage the outersurfaces of the upstanding legs 38 of a seal member during upwardmovement of the spacer members. The spacer members 124 are maintained inspaced relation on the pins 114 by a pair of retainer plates 126 whichare suitably secured to the spacer members 124 through screws 128.

A pair of identical seal retainer iingers 139 are pivotally mounted uponthe pins 114 intermediate the spacer members 124, with the upperportions of the seal retainer fingers being urged inwardly toward eachother by coil compression springs 132. Each of the compression springs132 is received within a bOre 134 (FIGURE 6) provided in each of theretainer plates 126 such that the compression springs 132 seat againstthe bottoms of the bores 134 and against outer surfaces 136 of the sealretaining ingers 130. An outwardly directed projecting portion 138 isprovided on the lower end of each of the outer surfaces 136 of the sealretaining fingers 130, which projections serve to engage theirassociated retaining plates 12o and thereby limit the inward pivotalmovement of the upper ends of the seal retaining lingers about pins 114due to compression springs 132. The seal retaining ingers 131) areprovided with angularly disposed recesses 140 in the opposing surfacesthereof to receive the upstanding side portions 38 of a seal member 34,and include shoulder portions 142 to engage the upper edge surfaces ofthe side portions 38 when a seal is disposed between the seal retainingfingers 1313 during operation as described more fully hereinbelow. it iswill be under'- stood that when a seal member 34 is disposed between theseal retaining lingers 1311, the respective seal retaining lingers willbe urged rmly against the upstanding -side portions 38 of the sealmember through the compression springs 132 to thereby rmly retain theseal member between the iingers.

Referring to FIGURES 4, 5 and 7, a cutter blade member 146 having agenerally rectangular configuration is supported by the pins 114 betweenthe side plate Si) and a pair of opposing crimping jaws 122 so as to beverticaily movable with the pins 114. The cutter blade member 148 isslightly recessed in its upper edge surface to form a cutting orshearing edge 148 adjacent the inner Iface of the side plate 98. Theshearing edge 148 is adapted to cooperate with the forward edge portionof the inner end of the leo portion 186 of the upper cutter block 108 toeffect severing of a seal member 34 from the connected seal members atthe web portion 37 thereof upon actuation ot the seal securing mechanism2i), as more fully described hereinbelow.

A seal stop and strap guide plate 150 is also supported by the pins 114so as to be vertically movable therewith and is disposed between theside plate 92 and the adiacent pair of crimping jaws 122. The guideplate 150 has a generally rectangular base portion (FIGURE 6) whichreceives the pins 114 therethrough and includes a pair of upstanding legportions 152. The upstanding legs 152 have inner opposing surfaces 154which are spaced slightly greater than the width of a strap band 40, butless than the distance between the upstanding leg portions 38 of a sealmember 34. The upstanding legs 152 include side surfaces 155 which serveto engage the forward end of an advanced seal when the guide plate israised during operation to thereby maintain the seal in iixedlongitudinal relation between the surfaces 155 and the inner surface ofside plate 98. The upper portions of the opposing surfaces 154 arepreferably provided with inclined surfaces 156 to assist in guiding astrap band 40 between the opposing surface portions 154 of the legs 152during operation of the crimping mechanism. A vertically extendingprojection 158 is provided on the rearward surface of the guide plate150 and is received within a vertically extending recess 160 provided inthe adjacent surface of the side plate 92 to assist in stabilizing theguide plate 150 during vertical movement thereof relative to the sideplate 92.

Referring to FIGURES 4 6, the upper end of each of the crimping andbending jaws 122 is provided with a shearing surface 17() disposed innormal relation to the side surface portions of the jaws so as to defineshearing edges 171 (FIGURE 5) therewith. As will become more apparenthereinbelow, the shearing edges 171 serve to cut portions of theupstanding leg portions 38 of the seal members 34 during operation toform generally triangularly shaped tabs 41 (FIGURE 9). The tabs 41 arebent over and crimped upon the upper surface of a strap band 40 disposedin overlying relation on a seal member 34 by the surfaces 78 andradially shaped shoulders 172 formed on the jaws 122 adjacent surfaces70 during operation of the seal securing mechanism 2i). The generallyradially shaped shoulders 172 terminate in edge surfaces 174 which aredisposed on the jaws 122 so as not to engage any portion of a sealmember 34 during operation of the seal securing mechanism. The lowerends of the crimping jaws 122 include apertures 176 which receive pins178 therethrough. The pins 178 are rotatable within the apertures 176and have axial lengths substantially equal to the distance between thespaced side plates 98 and 92. The outer ends of each of the pins 178rotatably support roller members 188 and 182, which roller members haveaxial widths slightly less than the distance between their associatedjaws 122 and adjacent side plates. Each of the pins 178 furtherpivotally supports a pair of identically shaped link members 184. Theends of the link members 184 opposite the pins 178 are pivotallyretained on support pins 186 which, in turn, are supported by a clevis188.

The clevis 188 is generally rectangular in shape and is mounted forvertical movement between the side plates 96, 92 on the upper end of apiston rod 198, as through a pin member 192. The clevis 188 is providedwith transverse slots 194 which receive the lower ends of the linkmembers 184 to thereby maintain the links in spaced relation on the pins178.

The piston rod 190 forms the piston rod of a conventional hydraulicallyactuated cylinder-piston assembly 196 secured to the lower ends of theside plates 90 and 92 through a base member 198 and through-bolts 280.The cylinder-piston assembly 196 includes a pair of fluid pressureconduit connectors, one of which is shown at 282 in FIGURE 1, whichserve to couple the cylinder-piston assembly to a source of fluidpressure and an electrically operated flow control valve. A suitablesource of fluid pressure and an electrically operated flow control valveare shown at reference numerals and 17, respectively, in theaforereferenced U.S. Patent 2,933,958, to Koehler et al. with suitableoperatively connected fluid pressure conduits being also disclosedtherein.

A pair of guide rails 206 are suitably secured to each of the sideplates 90 and 92, respectively, such that the guide rails are disposedgenerally adjacent the side edges of the corresponding side plates. Eachof the guide rails 206 includes an upper inclined cam surface 208, witheach pair of opposing guide rails 286 having their respective camsurfaces 208 inclined downwardly when considered in a direction towardthe vertical center line of the associated side plate. The guide rails286 serve to limit outward movement of the rollers 180 and 182 whichengage inner opposing edge surfaces 210 in rolling relation until therollers have been moved vertically to a position wherein they engage theinclined cam surfaces 208. It will be understood that vertical movementof the piston rod 190 and the associated clevis 188 will effect upwardmovement of the links 184 and the crimping jaws 122 with the angularrelationship of the jaws 122 about their respective mounting pins 114being determined bv the inner edge surfaces 210 and cam surfaces 208 ofthe guide rails 286. The upper limit of vertical movement of the jaws122 is determined by plug members 212 disposed within the upper ends ofthe vertically extending parallel slots and 102 in the side plates 98and 92. respectively. The relative vertical positions of the inclinedcam surfaces 288 of the guide rails 206 is such that when the pins 114have engaged the plugs 212 during upward movement of the clevis 188, therollers and 182 will begin to roll up their associated cam surfaces 208.thereby pivoting the associated jaws 122 about the pins 114. The links184 maintain the rollers 180y and 182 in close proximity to the guiderails 286 during raising and lowering thereof through edge portions onthe links which contact if the links 184 should pivot toward each otherwhen the rollers are engaging edge surfaces 214i.

Means are provided for maintaining the end of a strap band 48, disposedin operative position within the seal securing mechanism 20, against theupper surface of the fiat body portion 36 of a seal member 34 duringcrimping of the seal member onto the strap band. Such means includes ahold-down block 220 which also serves as a shear block for cooperationwith the shearing edges 171 of the jaws 122, as will be described morefully hereinbelow. The hold-down and shear block 220 is fixedly securedto an arm member 222 through screws 224. The arm member 222 includes adepending portion 226 which is rotatably supported upon an upstandingbracket 228 through a pin 230. The bracket 228 is suitably secured tothe upper surface of support plate member 22. A depending cam plate 232is fixed secured to the arm 222 through cap screws 234 in parallelrelation to the depending portion 226 and includes an aperture 236 toreceive the pin 230 therethrough for assisting in pivotally supportingthe hold-down block 228 for pivotal up and down movement about the pin230. A coil spring 240 is disposed about the end of pin 230 opposite thecam plate 232 and includes arm portions 242 and 244 which act,respectively, against the undersurface of the arm member 222 and thebracket 228 so as to normally urge the support arm 222 upwardly aboutthe support pin 230, A trip cam 246 is pivotally mounted on theupstanding bracket 228 through a cap screw 248 so as to be rotatablethereabout in a vertical plane coincident with the plane of the camplate 232. The trip cam 246 underlies the cam plate 232 and includes anedge surface 250 adapted to engage an upper edge portion 159 of theguide plate 150 during upward movement of the guide plate simultaneouslywith upward movement of the jaws 122. Downward pivotal movement of tripcam 246 is limited by a projection 252 thereon adapted to engage an edgesurface 254 in the generally rectangular opening 93 in the support platemember 222 (FIGURE 2). A further edge surface portion 256 on the tripcam 246 is adapted to engage a projecting shoulder portion 258 providedan the cam plate 232 during upward pivotal movement of the trip cam. Therelative positions of the edge surface 256 on the trip cam 246 and theshoulder portion 258 on the cam plate 232 are such that when the tripcam 246 hasbeen pivoted to its uppermost position through engagement ofthe edge surface 250 against the edge portion 159 `of the guide plate150, the hold-down and shear block 220 will be pivoted downwardly tofirmly engage the upper surface of a strap band 40 positioned in theseal securing mechanism 20 preparatory to having a seal member 34attached thereto.

The hold-down and shear block 220 has parallel vertical side surfaces260 (FIGURES 1 and 4) which are spaced a distance substantially equal tothe axial distance between the jaws 122 disposed on the pins 114. Theside surfaces 260 provide shearing faces for cooperation with theshearing edges 171` on the crimping jaws 122 during upward inwardpivotal movement of the jaws. The holddown and shear block 220 furtherincludes inclined surfaces 262 (FIGURES 2 and 6) which are angularlydisposed relative to the plane of the bottom surface to firmly seatagainst the inner vopposing surfaces of the upstanding side portions 38of a seal member 34 during operation.

To insure proper positioning of a strap band 40 within the seal securingmechanism 2i), When considered in a direction normal to the side plates9i), 92, a stop lever 266 is provided on the side of the seal securingmechanism opposite the seal guiding means 24. The lever 266 also formsthe operating lever for the operating switch means 32, which, as notedabove, is operative to close a circuit allowing operation of the sealsecuring mechanism when a strap band 4G is properly positioned withinthe seal securing mechanism, Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, the stoplever 266 is pivotally supported about a pin 267 within a vertical slot268 of a support bracket 27 0 which is secured to the upper surface ofthe support plate member 22 by cap screws 272. The lever 266 includes aforward generally concave edge surface 274 which serves to engage theforward edge of a strap band 4t) and thereby determines the relativeaxial position of the strap band within the seal securing mechanism 20.A recess 276 is formed in the stop lever 266 to provide a clearancebetween the lever 266 and the upper end of the side plate 92, therebyallowing the forward edge surface 274 to depend downwardly between theupstanding leg portions 152 of the seal guide plate 15). The end of thestop lever 266 opposite the strap engaging edge surface 274 includes acontact surface 278 which is received within a slot 280 formed withinthe upper end of a plunger member 282. The plunger member 282 isvertically slidable within an upstanding boss 234 secured to the supportplate member 222 and depends through an aperture 236 in the supportplate member. The plunger member 232 serves to trip a conventionaloperating switch 238 (FIGURE l) provided in an electrical controlcircuit to be described more fully hereinbelow. It will be seen byviewing FIGURE 4 that the line of contact between the forward end of thestrap band 4t) and the surface 274 of the stop lever 266 is verticallyabove the pivotal axis of pin 267 thereby producing a moment armrelative to the pin 267 such that upon engagement of the strap band endwith the lever 266, the lever will pivot about. the pin 267 to therebydepress the plunger member 282 and actuate the operating switch 288, Arecess 290 is formed centrally in the upper end of the side plate 92 toallow free pivotal movement of the stop lever 266.

Alternatively, the operating switch 28S may be eliminated from the abovedescribed embodiment, thereby requiring that only the operating switchmeans 3i) be actuated to effect operation of the subject invention afterthe control circuit has been otherwise closed as will become apparenthereinbelow. If it is desired to eliminate the operating switch 288, thestop lever arm 266 is lixedly secured to the support bracket 27 0 in theposition as illustrated in FIGURE 4. In this manner the edge surface 273of the stop lever 266 serves as a stop means against which the end of astrap band is positioned when inserted within the seal securingmechanism 2t).

Seal feeding mechanism The seal advancing means 26 of the presentinvention is substantially identical to that disclosed in theaforereferenced U.S. Patent 2,933,958 to Koehler et al. and willtherefore only be described briefly herein. Referring to FIGURES 1, 4and 5, the seal advancing means 26 includes a rock lever 292 pivotallymounted about a transverse pin 294 carried by a pair of depending spacedbrackets 296. The spaced brackets 296 are suitably iixedly secured tothe undersurface of the support plate member 22 such that the rock lever292 is disposed between the two depending brackets. The upper end of therock lever 292 pivotally supports a seal engaging pawl 298 through asupport pin 360 with both the upper end of the rock lever and the sealengaging pawl extending upwardly through a suitable opening 299 in thesupport plate 22. The seal engaging pawl 298 has a finger lever 362secured thereto which allows the seal engaging pawl to be selectivelymanually rotated about the pin 390 to move the pawl out of engagementwith the seal members as will become apparent hereinbelow. The sealengaging pawl 293 is urged to an upward position or counter-clockwiserotation about the pin 301B by a coil spring 304, the ends of which areadapted to engage the pawl and a web portion 306 of the rock lever 292.The extent of upward rotational movement of the pawl 298 about the pin300 may be limited by engagement of the finger lever 302 with the upperend of the web portion 366. The seal engaging pawl 29S is preferablyprovided with a pair of generally triangular lugs 308 which are adaptedto enter slots 43 formed in the continuous connected seal members 34adjacent the junctures 37 of adjoining seals (FIGURE 5).

The lower end of the rock lever 298 pivotally supports a trunnion member310 through a pin 312. The trunnion member 310 is fixedly secured to ashaft 314 which in turn is suitably secured to a cross bar 316. Thecross bar 316 is secured to the ends of a pair of horizontally disposedparallel shafts 313, one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 1, which areslidably received through bushings 317 in corresponding aperturesprovided in the side plates 9i) and 92 so as to be axially slidabletherein. The shafts 318 are urged to a position wherein the cross bar316 abuts adjacent bushings 317, as shown in FIGURE l, by coilcompression springs 329 disposed about the shafts between the outersurface of the side plate 92 and retaining nuts 322 secured on the outerends of the shafts. Each of the shafts 318 has a cam member 324 fixedlysecured thereon, with each cam member having an upper inclined camsurface 326 adapted to engage one of a pair of rollers 323 rotatablymounted on portions 33t) and 331 of the shaft or pin member 192 (FIGURE6) during downward movement of the clevis 188 coincident with extensionand retraction of the piston 19t? during operation of the seal securingmechanism 26. It will be understood that as the rollers 328 engage thecam surfaces 326 upon downward movement of the clevis 18S, the shafts318 will be caused to move to the left, when viewing FIGURE 1, therebyrotating the rock lever 292 about pin 294 through shaft 314. Suchrotational movement of the rock lever 292 will cause the upstanding lugs308 on the seal engaging pawl 298, which lugs have previously been urgedinto engagement with the slots 43 between adjacent adjoined sealmem-bers 34, to move the seal members 34 along the seal guide 24 duringindexing of the seal members. Conversely, when the roller members 32Sare raised to a position above the cam members 324, the shafts 318 willbe urged to the right by compression springs 320, thereby rotating therock lever 292 to the position shown in FIG- URE 1. During suchretraction of the rock lever 292, the lugs 368 of the seal engaging pawl298 will leave their associated slots 43 through downward pivotalmovement of the pawl and slide along the bottom of the fiat centersurface 36 of the next rearward seal member 34 to be introduced into thenext rearward slots 43 preparatory to the next indexing movement of theseal advancing `means 26.

Control switches As noted hereinabove, the present invention utilizes acontrol circuit which controls the admission of hydraulic fluid underpressure to the cylinder-piston assembly 196 through suitable couplings202 to effect operation of the seal securing mechanism 20. A suitablehydraulic power source is disclosed in the above referenced U.S. Patent2,933,958 to Koehler et al. Basically, the control circuit of thepresent invention, described more fully hereinbelow, includes a pair ofoperating switches which may be actuated upon proper positioning of astrap band 40 l 1 within the seal securing mechanism 20 to initiatevertical movement of the piston member 190. The control circuit furtherincludes limit switches which serve to control the limits of upward anddownward movement of the piston rod 190 as well as to establish a stopposition.

Referring to FIGURE 8, taken in conjunction With FIGURES 1 `and 6, theside plates 90 and 92 are adapted to support a switch panel plate 332 in-generally vertical position through a pair of support bars 334. Theswitch panel plate 332 serves to support a conventional normally opencontact upper travel limit switch 336 and a conventional normally closedcontact lower travel limit switch 338. As will become apparenthereinbelow, the lower limit switch 338 also serves to open the controlcircuit when actuated, thereby stopping movement of the piston rod 190.The limit switches 336 and 338 are provided with operating levers 336and 338', respectively, each of which is provided at its free end with aroller 340. Cooperable with the rollers 348 for actuation of theassociated operating levers is a cylindrical portion 346 provided on anextension member 344 (FIGURE 6) which is threadedly connected to the end331 of pin 192. Engagement of the cylindrical portion 346 with therollers 340 elects actuation of the limit switches 336 and 338 tocontrol the movement of piston rod 190 and thus reciprocation of thevertically movable elements of the seal securing mechanism 20.

The support panel plate 332 also serves to suitably support theaforedescribed normally open operating switch 288, operative through thelever 266 of the switch means 32, and a normally open operating switch350 disposed below a plunger member 352. The plunger 352 is supportedfor vertical sliding movement within an aperture 354 in the supportplate member 22 below an operating lever 356 of the switch means 30,which operating lever 356 is suitably pivotally supported on theupstanding support bracket 58. A coil compression spring 358 is disposedabout the upper end of the plunger member 352 intermediate the uppersurface of the support plate member 22 and the lower edge of theoperating level 356 to urge the operating lever upwardly about itspivotal connection to the support bracket 58. Upper pivotal movement ofthe operating level 356 is limited by engagement with a retainer plate360 secured to the upper end of the support bracket 58.

Electrical control circuit Referring now to FIGURE l1, taken inconjunction with FIGURE 8, a suitable electrical control system for theseal attaching apparatus described hereinabove is illustrateddiagrammatically. The control system utilizes a conventional three phaseelectric motor M adapted to be operatively connected to a three-phaseline L through a start and stop switch means indicated generally byreference numeral 362. The start and stop buttons, 364 and 366,respectively, may be suitably located adjacent the seal securingmechanism 20 as on a control box 368 (FIGURE 3). The motor M serves todrive a suitable hydraulic pump such as that designated by referencenumeral is the aforereferenced U.S. Patent No. 2,933,958 to Koehler etal.

A pair of conductors 370 and 372 are connected, respectively, toconductors L1 and L3 of the three-phase line L for providing anenergizing circuit for solenoid coils of a spring centered ow controlvalve as will be more fully described below. A manually operable runswitch 374 may be suitably supported by the control box 368 and servesto allow the operator to move the piston rod 190 and the correspondingvertically movable elements of the seal securing mechanism to theirlowermost positions if the mechanism 20 has been stopped at a pointother than its lowermost position.

A rst conventional relay 376 is connected between the conductors 372 and370 through the run switch 374, a normally closed relay contact 378 of asecond conventional relay 380, a normally open relay contact 382 of therelay 376, and the series connected normally open operating switches 288and 350. The run switch 174, the operating switches 288, 350 and therelay contact 382 are connected in parallel between the conductor 370and the relay contact 378 of relay 380. The normally closed relaycontact 382 serves as a holding circuit for the relay 376.

The second conventional relay 380 is connected between the conductors378 and 372. through the normally closed bottom travel limit switch 338,the normally open upper travel limit switch 336 and a normally openrelay contact 384 of the relay 380. The relay contact 384 is connectedin parallel with the upper limit switch 336 and serves as a holdingcircuit for the relay 380. A lirst solenoid coil 386 is connectedbetween the conductors 370 and 372 through a normally open relay contactset 388 of the relay 376 and comprises an energizing coil for a.conventional electro-mechanical spring centered flow control valve (notshown) which directs fluid pressure flow to the cylinder-piston assembly196. A second solenoid coil 390 is connected between the conductors 370and 372 through a normally open relay contact set 392 of the relay 380and comprises an energizing coil for the llow control valve, the coil398 serving to effect movement of the spool of the control valve in adirection opposite to that obtained through energizing the lirstsolenoid coil 386.

Operation Having described the elements comprising a preferredembodiment of a seal securing apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention, the general operation thereof will now be briey described.For purposes of illustration, it will be assumed that the cover plate 48of the seal guiding means 24 has been removed as above described, that acontinuous strip of interconnected seal members 34 (FIGURE 5) has beenproperly inserted into the seal guide means and brought into engagingrelation with the lug portions 308 on the seal engaging pawl 298 of theseal advancing means 26 such that the forwardmost seal member isdisposed adjacent the Side plate 98, and that the index pins 68 areproperly disposed between edges 39 of adjacent upstanding wall portions38 ofthe seal members.

The operation of the above described control circuit is as follows. Itis assumed for purposes of illustration that the seal attachingapparatus had been previously stopped at a point wherein the piston rodis at its lowermost position with the extension member 346 engaging theroller 340 on switch arm 338 to open the normally closed lower limitswitch 338. It is further assumed that the stop button 366 had beendepressed to open the start switch 364. When the operator desires toattach a seal member 34 to a strap band 40, he lirst depresses the startbutton 264 to energize motor M and allow conduction through conductorsL1 and L3. With the operating switches 288 and 350 open, the run switch374 open, and the lower limit switch 338 open as above described, therelay contacts 388 and 392 will be open to prevent energizing of thesolenoid coils 386 and 398. As the operator inserts a strap band intoproper position within the seal securing mechanism 20, the end of thestrap band engages the lever 266 to actuate the operating switch 288.The operator then depresses lever 356 to actuate operating switch 350.It can be seen that with the start button 364 and the operating switches288, 350 all closed current will flow through the normally closed relaycontacts 378 to thereby energize relay 376. Energizing relay 376 effectsclosing of relay contacts 382 and 388 to thereby energize the solenoidcoil 386 and etect upward movement of the piston rod 190 and thevertically movable elements operatively associated therewith. As abovenoted, relay contacts 382 form a holding circuit for the relay 376 andmaintain it energized when the operating switches 28S and 350 are openedafter the operator removes the band and attached seal from the mechanism2). When the movable elements of the seal securing mechanism reach theiruppermost limits, i.c., when a seal has been properly attached to thestrap band by the crimping jaws 122, the extension 346 will engage theroller 3d@ on the upper limit switch arm 336 to close upper limit switch336. Closing limit switch 336 will allow current flow through thenormally closed operating switch to energize relay 38h. Energizing relay380 causes the relay contacts 37S to open thereby interrupting thecircuit through relay 376 and opening relay contacts 332 and 383.Opening relay contact 383 de-energizes solenoid coil S6 and allows theiow control valve to be moved to a position wherein iiuid pressure willbe introduced into the cylinder-piston assembly 1% to effect downwardmovement of piston rod 190. Such movement of the iiow control valve isestablished through the above noted energization of relay 380 whichcloses relay contacts an 392 simultaneously with opening of the relaycontacts 37S. Closing contacts 392 energizes the solenoid coil 39S toeiiect movement of the flow control valve to a position wherein pistonrod 19% will move downwardly. The relay 33t) will remain energized afterthe upper limit switch 336 is opened due to the holding circuit of relayContact 334, thereby maintaining the described downward movement ofpiston rod 199.

When the piston rod 19t, moves downwardly to a position wherein theextension 35:6 engages the roller 34m on the arm 53S of the normallyclosed lower limit switch 33S, switch 33S will be opened. Opening switch338 deenergizes relay 3"@ which thereupon allows relay Contact 37S toclose and relay contacts 384 and 392 to open. Closing relay contacts 37Sprepares the relay 37o for energizing in a manner as above described,while opening relay contacts 384 and 392 opens the holding circuit forrelay 38@ and de-energizes the solenoid coil 390, respectively. With thelower limit switch 338 so opened, both solenoid coils 33e, 399 will bedeenergized thereby allowing the iiow control valve to move to centerposition wherein vertical movement of piston rod 190 will cease. Theoperator may then depress the stop button 36o to open switch means 362until such time as he again desires to attach a seal member to a strapband. it will be understood that the above described cycle may berepeated continuously as the operator depresses the actuating levers 266and 356 when inserting a strap band within the mechanism 26 to attach aseal member thereto.

There may be times when the operator for some reason stops the sealattaching apparatus at a point wherein the vertically movable componentsof the seal securing mechanism 2) are at a position other than theirabove described lowermost positions. In such a case it is preferablethat the operator, after depressing the start button 364 to energize themotor M, next depress or close the run switch 374 which will energizethe relay 376 through the normally closed relay contact 378. Energizingrelay 376 will close the holding circuit relay contacts 332 and therelay contacts 388 to energize the sole-- noid coil 386, therebyeffecting movement of the piston rod 19S through an upward and downwardcycle as above described until the bottom limit switch 33S is opened tostop the piston rod in its lowerrnost position. Thereafter, the operatorneed only insert a strap band within the seal securing mechanism andactuate the operating switches 2% and 3S@ to repeat the above describedseal attaching cycle.

During a cycle of operation, the seal attaching mechanism and sealadvancing mechanism will complete the cycle as follows: Assuming that astrip of seal members 34 has been inserted in the seal guide means 24 asabove noted, and that the control circuit has stopped the seal securingmechanism 2G in a lowermost position, it will be understood that as therollers 328 on the extensions 1d 33t? and 331 of the pin 192 approachedthe said lowermost position, the rollers engaged the cam member 324 toadvance a seal member 34 into the seal securing mechanism 2G as abovedescribed.

In the lowermost position of the piston rod 19t), illustrated in FIGURE6, the crimping jaws l122 are in an open position with the rollers 18oengaging the inner edge surfaces 210 of the guide rails 206. Theshearing edge 14S of the cutter blade member 146 and the bottorn edgesurface of the recesses 125 of the spacer members 121iare disposed belowthe plane of the bottom surfaces of the seal members 3d so as not tointerfere with forward movement of the seals during indexing thereof.When the piston rod 199 is in the lowermost position, the holddown andshear block 220 is urged to an upward position about its pivotalmounting pin 239 through the action of the coil spring 24,0 actingagainst the arm member 222.

When the operator inserts the forward end of a strap band within therecess 112 of side plate 90 and against the forward edge surface 274 ofthe lever member 266 and actuates operating switches 28S and 350, thepiston rod 190 will begin its upward movement. As the vertically movableelements of the seal securing mechanism 26 are raised with the pistonrod 190 and clevis 188, the spring retainer fingers will be spread asthey engage the upstanding side portions 38 of the advanced seal member.The seal member is thereupon received within the recesses 146 of theretaining fingers 130 such that the upper edges of the side portions 38abut the shoulder portions 142 adjacent the recesses 14@ to therebyfirmly position the seal member between the retaining fingers.Simultaneously with the seal retaining fingers receiving the advancedseal member therebetween the surfaces 15S of the opstanding leg portions152 of the seal guide 159 engage portions of the forward edge of theadvanced seal member to maintain the seal in relative xed longitudinalposition between the sideplate 90 and the leg surfaces 155 during upwardmovement of the seal member.

Just as the advanced seal member is received within the recesses of theseal retainer lingers 130, the shearing edge 14S of the cutter blade 146engages the bottom surface of the advanced seal member adjacent theconnecting web portion 37 and severs the advanced seal from thecontinuous length of seals thereby allowing free upward movement of theseal with the retaining fingers 130. During such upward movement, theshoulder portion 159 of the seal guide plate will engage the edgesurface 256 of the trip cam 246 and rotate it upwardly about the capscrew 248. The edge surface portion 256 of the trip cam will thereuponengage the downwardly projecting shoulder 258 of the cam plate 232 topivot the hold-down block 220 downwardly to rmly engage against theupper surface of the strap 40 disposed in overlying relation to the sealmember 3d. During initial movement of the piston rod 19t) upwardly fromits aforedescribed lowermost position, the rollers 180 will be inrolling Contact with the inner opposing surfaces 214i of the guide rails206, thereby forcing the pin members 114 and the associated elementssupported thereon upwardly within the vertically extending slots 160 and1(92 in the side plates 90 and 92, respectively. The relative positionof the shoulder 159 on the seal guide 150 and the configurations of thetrip cam 246 and the cam plate 232 are such that the hold-down block 220will be forced downwardly into engaging relation with the upper surfaceof the strap band 40 when the rollers reach the point of intersection ofthe inclined cam surfaces 208 with the inner surfaces 210 of the guiderails 296. At this point, the pins 114 will engage the plugs 212 in theupper ends of slots 100, 162.

As the pins 114 abut the plugs 212, the roller members 180 are caused toroll upwardly along the inclined cam surfaces 208 of the guide rails 206thereby rotating the upper ends of the jaws 122 about the pins 114inwardly toward each other. Continued outward movement of the rollers180 on the surfaces 208 causes the shearing surfaces 170 of jaws 122 toengage the portions of the upstanding sides 38 of the seal member 34disposed outwardly from either side of the seal retaining fingers 130,with the shearing edges 171 cooperating with the shear surfaces 260 ofthe hold-down block 220- to cut generally triangularly shaped tabs 41Afrom the seal sides 38, as illustrated at 41 in FIGURE 9. Continuedupward movement of the piston 190 causes the jaws 122 to rotate furtherinwardly toward each other, thereby causing the shoulder portions 172thereon to bend the cut tab portions 41 downwardly upon the uppersurface of the strap band 40 and pinch the triangularly shaped tabsfirmly against the upper surface of the strap band.

The arm 336 of the upper limit switch 336 is so adjusted in relation tothe end portion 346 of the extension 344 on the pin 192 that actuationof the switch 336 will take place when the seal securing mechanismreaches its uppermost position as illustrated in FIGURE 6, therebyreversing movement of the piston rod 190 after the tabs 41 have beencrimped upon the strap band 40 as aforedescribed. The upper ends of theopposing jaws 122 are thereafter caused to be pivoted away from eachother as the rollers 180 descend downwardly on the inclined cam surfaces208 of the guide rails 266. Continued downward movement of the pistonrod 190 causes the rollers 180` to again engage the vertical opposingsurfaces 210 of the guide rails 206 whereby the pins 114 and theelements carried thereby will be moved downwardly. Simultaneously, thehold-down block 220 will pivot upwardly to thereby allow the strap band40 and seal member 34 secured thereon to be removed from the sealsecuring mechanism.

As the cutter blade member 146 and the spacer members 124 of the sealsecuring mechanism 20 are lowered to a position wherein the shearingedge 148- and the lower edge portions of the spacer recesses 125 passbelow the plane of the upper surface of the support plate member 22, therollers 328 disposed on the outer extending portions 330 and 331(FIGQ'RE 6l) of the pin 192 will again engage the inclined surfaces 326of the cam members 324 to thereby urge the shafts 318 in a direction toeffect actuation of the seal advancing means 26 as above described. Itwill be understood that the arm 33S of the lower limit switch 338 issuitably adjusted to achieve the desired results.

As above noted, if desired, the operating switch 288 may be eliminatedand the lever member 266 fixedly secured to the 'bracket 270 to serve asa positioning stop for the strap band. In such case, the control circuitillustrated in FIGURE l1 would be modified accordingly to eliminate theswitch 288 and thereby utilize the single operating switch 350.

While a preferred embodiment of our invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that changes and modifications may bemade therein without departing from the invention in its broaderaspects, and therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover allsuch changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and `scopeof our invention.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for attaching a seal member having a lbase and generallyupstanding side portions to a strap band and the like, comprising, asupport plate member, seal securing means disposed on said support platemember and including reciprocally mounted jaw means adapted to receive aseal member therein and attach portions of the upstanding sides of theseal member to a strap band when positioned in overlying relation to theseal member, said reciprocally mounted means being adapted to attachportions of said upstanding sides of said seal to said strap band whilemaintaining the remaining portions of said sides in generally upstandingrelation to the base of said seal, and means for effecting reciprocalmovement of said reciprocally mounted jaw means.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said reciprocally mountedmeans includes oppositely disposed crimping jaw means pivotable to anopen position when moved to a first position to receive a seal membertherebetween, and pivotable to engage the side portions of the sealmember when moved to a second position in a manner to cut tab portionsfrom the upstanding side portions of the seal member and crimp said tabportions onto a strap band when disposed in overlying relation to theseal member, said crimping jaws being effective to crimp said tabportions while the remaining portions of said sides are maintatined ingenerally upstanding relation to the base of the seal to thereby fixedlyattach the seal member to the strap band during reciprocation of saidreciprocally mounted means.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said reciprocally mountedmeans further includes seal retainer means adapted to receive a sealmember when moved to said first position and firmly retain the sealmember in fixed longitudinal relation to said crimping jaw means duringmovement of said jaw means to said second position.

4. An apparatus as dened in claim 2 including seal guide means adaptedto guide a plurality of connected seal members, and seal advancing meansoperatively associated with said guide means and said reciprocallymounted means and adapted to advance a seal member into saidreciprocally mounted means during reciprocation of said reciprocallymounted means.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said reciprocally mountedmeans includes a cutter plate member adapted to sever a seal memberadvanced into said reciprocally mounted means when said cutter platemember is moved toward said second position.

6. An apparatus for attaching a seal member having a base and generallyupstanding side portions to a strap band and the like, comprising, asupport plate member` seal securing means disposed on said support platemember and including oppositely disposed crimping jaw means pivotable toan open position when moved to a first position for receiving a sealmember therebetween, and pivotable to engage the side portions of theseal member when moved to a second position in a manner to cut tabportions from the side portions of the seal and crimp said portions ontoa strap band when disposed in overlying relation to the seal member tofixedly attach the seal member to the strap band during reciprocation ofsaid reciprocally mounted means, means for er"- fecting reciprocalmovement of said reciprocally mounted means, and pivotally supportedhold-down rneans operatively associated with said reciprocally mountedmeans so as to be pivoted downwardly to firmly engage the strap bandagainst the seal member during movement of said crimping jaw means tosaid second position.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 including stop lever means adaptedto be engaged by a strap band when disposed Within said seal securingmeans, said stop lever means serving to position the strap bandlongitudinally within said seal securing means preparatory to having aseal member attached thereto.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said hold-down meansincludes shear surfaces thereon for cooperation with said crimping jawmeans to facilitate cutting of said tab portions When said crimping jawmeans are moved to said second position.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said crimping jaw meanscomprises two spaced pairs of oppositely disposed crimping jaws, saidcrimping jaws including shearing surfaces on the outer end portionsthereof adapted to engage the side portions of a seal member and cut tabportions therefrom during movement of said crimping jaw means to saidsecond position, said jaws further including shoulder portions adaptedto bend the cut tab portions onto a strap band disposed in overlyingrelation to the seal member and pinch said tab por- 17 tions onto thestrap band to thereby xedly attach the seal member to the strap band.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said seal retainer meanscomprises a pair of oppositely disposed pivotally mounted seal retainingfingers, said seal retaining fingers having recesses formed in theopposing surfaces thereof to receive the side portions of a seal memberwhen said seal retainer means are moved to said first position.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 including operating switch meansadapted to be actuated when a strap band is disposed in overlyingrelation to a seal member disposed within said crimping jaw means, saidoperating switch means being operatively associated with said means foreffecting reciprocal movement of said reciprocally mounted means wherebysaid reciprocal movement will be effected upon actuation of saidoperating switch means.

12. An apparatus as delined in claim 3 wherein said crimping jaw meansand said seal retatiner means are supported for pivotal movement aboutsupport pin means, and including guide channel means to receive saidsupport pin means whereby said pins will be guided within said guidechannel means during reciprocal movement of said reciprocally mountedmeans.

13. An apparatus as delined in claim 2 wherein said means for effectingreciprocal movement of said reciprocally mounted means includes ahydraulically actuated cylinder-piston assembly, and including limitswitch means operative to selectively effect reversal of movement ofsaid reciprocally mounted means.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 including an operating switchoperatively associated with said stop lever means, said operating switchbeing further operatively associated with said means for effectingreciprocal movement of said reciprocally mounted means whereby saidreciprocal movement can be effected only upon actuation of saidoperating switch.

15. For use in an apparatus for attaching a seal having a base andgenerally upstanding side portions to a strap band and the like, a sealsecuring mechanism including reciprocally supported crimping jaw means,said crimping jaw means comprising oppositely disposed crimping jawsmovable to a first position to receive a seal member therebetween andmovable to a second position to engage portions of the upstanding sidesof the seal member and cut tab portions therefrom, said crimping jawsbeing further adapted to bend said tab portions onto a strap band whendisposed in overlying relation to the seal member and pinch said tabportions onto the strap band to fixedly secure the seal member thereon18 Iwhile maintaining all but the tab portions of the sides in generallyupstanding relation to the base of said seal.

16. A method of attaching a seal member to a length of strap bandpreparatory to affixing the strap band to a second strap by means of theseal, the seal having a base portion and generally upstanding sideportions defined by longitudinally spaced edges, comprising the steps ofpositioning the base portion of the seal in underlying engaging relationto the strap band, cutting portions of the upstanding sides of the sealadjacent the longitudinally spaced edges thereof to form generallyupwardly directed tab portions severed from the sides but integral withthe base portion of the seal, bending the tab portions inward onto theupper surface of the strap band while maintaining the remaining portionsof the sides in generally upstanding relation to the base, and crimpingthe bent tab portions against the upper surface of the strap band totixedly attach the seal to the strap band.

17. A method as defined in claim 16 including the step of firmlymaintaining the seal in underlying engaging relation with the strap bandand preventing inward deformation of the upstanding side portions of theseal other than the tab portions during cutting of said tab portions andcrimping of the tabs onto the strap band.

18. A method as deiined in claim 16 wherein said tab portions are cutfrom the side portions of the seal in a manner to provide upwardlydirected tabs on the edges of the side portions of the seal memberthereby forming two pairs of oppositely disposed tabs which are crimpedonto the upper surface ofthe strap band.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the seal member is formed integralwith a plurality of connected seal members, and including the step ofsevering a seal member from the remaining seal members prior to cuttingsaid tab portions from the upstanding sides thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,996,109 4/1935 Hiering 29-5132,797,714 7/1957 MacChesney 140-93.4 2,800,960 7/1957 Cutler 29-5132,882,934 4/1959 Gerrard 8l-9.1 2,933,958 4/1960 Koehler et al 8l-9.l3,066,599 12/1962 Koehler 81-9.1 3,215,064 11/1965 Koehler 81-9.l

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner E. M. COMBS, Assistant Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R. 29-513; 100-30

